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The biggest frustration with shiso is a packet that yields a few leaves or nothing at all. This guide compares five seed options on the metric that matters most: seed count and germination reliability. You’ll see at a glance which packet feeds a family and which suits a single test tray.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Shiso is an easy annual once you pick a viable packet; this breakdown separates high-yield winners from duds. shiso leaf seeds are the smart choice for gardeners who want big harvests of this Japanese herb without the high market price.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Shiso Leaf Seeds
Shiso (Perilla frutescens) is a fast-growing annual that rewards you with frilled, aromatic leaves for sushi, salads, and pickling. Because shiso self-seeds heavily, one strong plant can supply you for months, making seed count and freshness critical.
Seed count and packet size
A standard shiso plant produces hundreds of leaves over a season. A tiny packet of 200 seeds gives you a decent start, but a 1-ounce packet holding around 16,800 seeds turns into a serious supply for microgreens, multiple plantings, and sharing with neighbors. Consider your space before buying—a huge packet is overkill for a single balcony pot.
Green vs. purple shiso
Green shiso (Ao Shiso) is the classic sushi and salad herb with a clean, minty-citrus flavor. Purple shiso (Aka Shiso) has that cinnamon-citrus-coriander note and is the one used for pickling umeboshi and coloring drinks. They are not interchangeable in the kitchen, so pick the color that matches the dishes you actually cook.
Seed pods vs. packets
If you own a hydroponic garden like an AeroGarden, seed pod kits drop straight into the machine with sponges and baskets included. If you grow outdoors in soil, a classic packet gives you far more seeds for the same money. Know your setup first, because pods cannot be planted in the ground.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Seed Count | Variety | Days to Maturity | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| inbloom 18-Pod Kit★ Best Overall | Hydroponic starters | 350+ | 7 herbs incl. shiso | — | Amazon |
| Kitazawa Shiso SeedsTop Performer | Big green harvests | ~16,800 | Green Ohba | 60-70 | Amazon |
| 12-Pod LYKOCLEAN Kit | Compact hydro kits | 350+ | 7 herbs incl. shiso | — | Amazon |
| Mountain Valley Purple | Small purple test | ~200 | Purple shiso | 60-85 | Amazon |
| Bmore Spicy Purple | Purple microgreens | 5,600 | Purple shiso | — | Amazon |
In-Depth Reviews
1. inbloom 18-Pod Herb Seed Pod Kit
Our pick — over 4★ from 500+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
A hydroponic starter kit that puts shiso beside basil and mint in one tidy machine.
This kit is built for anyone who owns an AeroGarden, iDOO, Ahopegarden, or a similar hydroponic system and wants shiso without hunting down a separate seed pod. It brings 18 grow sponges, 18 baskets, 18 domes, and 20 foil stickers plus A&B plant food, with over 350 seeds spread across seven herbs — basil, parsley, shiso, liquorice, mint, cilantro, and chicory. The one compatibility catch: it is not suitable for square pods.
Setup earns the strongest feedback, with owners calling it easy to assemble and noting the snap-in grow pods and larger rims prevent tipping. The quality of the natural peat sponges is what wins people over, and the kit doubles as a complete starter set for mess-free indoor growing. Owners mention roughly 90% germination across the varieties, with seedlings sprouting in days under grow lights.
The honest trade-off comes from the review pages: this is a starter kit, and several owners note that seedlings need to be potted on to grow large enough to produce anything of substance. As owners put it: “While Everything I tried i got to grow a lot of these need to grow to large to produce anything of substance” — meaning you should treat these as starters for your hydroponic system, then move vigorous plants into bigger pots. It is a great Mother’s Day gift for a plant-loving family member, but a single-variety shiso purist will want the dedicated packet instead.
Best use-case: starting multiple herbs at once in a hydroponic garden, ideal for beginners and families.
The fit note: germination is mixed overall in the data — some seeds sprout fast, others never do, so plant a few extras.
Choose this for: a low-maintenance indoor herb garden where shiso is one of several herbs, not the star.
skip it if: you want a pure, dedicated shiso supply — the 350+ seeds are split across seven varieties.
2. Kitazawa Shiso Seeds – Green Ohba
The 1-ounce packet that turns a craving for shiso into a full-on supply line.
This is the pick for anyone tired of paying premium prices for a few leaves at the market — buyers report the local store charges for 10 skinny leaves, and this single packet holds around 16,800 seeds. That is roughly 84 times more seed than the Mountain Valley purple packet’s 200 seeds, which makes it the obvious choice for anyone planning multiple plantings, microgreens, or sharing with gardening friends.
It is a true green Japanese variety (Perilla frutescens var crispa) in the classic Ao Shiso form, Non-GMO and heirloom, and it reaches full maturity in 60-70 days. Owners describe it as the missing piece when green Japanese shiso is hard to find locally, and the germination gets consistent praise with sprouts coming up beautifully outdoors. One grower even uses the thinnings as microgreens for scrambled eggs before letting the rest mature for sushi garnish.
The brand, Kitazawa Seed Company, has been selling Asian variety seeds since 1917, which shows in the care taken with this packet. The honest caveat: one owner had a rare total failure to germinate, which happens with any natural seed, but it is a clear outlier next to the repeated success stories. For anyone who cooks Japanese food regularly, this is the packet that makes shiso a pantry staple instead of a luxury.
What wins people over
- Massive ~16,800 seed count for a real year-round supply
- True green Japanese Ao Shiso variety, heirloom and Non-GMO
- Fast 60-70 day maturity with strong reported germination
Who should think twice
- Full sun outdoor crop only — not suited for winter overwintering
- A rare seed lot can fail, as with any natural product
Reach for this if: you want green shiso in serious quantity for cooking and microgreens.
Look elsewhere if: you only need a tiny test pot — 16,800 seeds is far more than a single planter needs.
3. LYKOCLEAN 12-Pod Herb Seed Pod Kit
A compact 12-pod kit that claims a 96% germination rate across seven herbs.
This kit is the lighter, more affordable cousin to the inbloom set, built for hydroponic systems like AeroGarden, Ahopegarden, and iDOO. It includes 12 growth sponges, 12 baskets, 12 domes, 12 pod labels, and A&B plant food, with 350+ seeds across the same seven herbs including shiso. At 7.04 ounces, it is noticeably lighter than the 11.7-ounce inbloom kit, which makes it the easy pick if you want a smaller footprint or a single compact garden.
The headline number here is the 96% germination rate the maker claims, backed by review feedback that calls the seeds great and the kit well put together. Customers note the domes are reusable and the package arrives small and tidy with everything needed to replant. The natural peat grow sponges offer balanced pH and strong water-wicking, so roots get consistent moisture from day one.
Where it falls short of the inbloom kit is raw capacity — 12 pods instead of 18 means fewer herbs per cycle, and you will replant sooner if you use a lot of basil and mint. One owner notes the pods come with everything needed for a hydro setup, which makes this an excellent entry-level choice for a first-time hydroponic gardener who wants a shiso option without committing to a bigger machine.
What stands out: reusable domes and a compact 12-pod layout that fits neatly into a small kitchen counter garden.
The honest note: fewer pods than the 18-pod kit means more frequent replanting for heavy herb users.
Buy it for: a tidy, starter-friendly hydroponic kit with a high claimed germination rate.
Think twice if: you are a heavy basil and mint user who wants maximum pods per cycle.
4. Mountain Valley Purple Shiso Seeds
A tidy 200-seed packet for gardeners who want to test purple shiso before committing big.
This 1-gram packet holds roughly 200 purple shiso seeds, which makes it the sensible small-scale option for anyone trying this variety for the first time. It is Non-GMO and open-pollinated, reaching full maturity in 60-85 days under full sun with moderate watering. The purple leaves bring that distinctive cinnamon-citrus-coriander aroma used in pickling and traditional Japanese dishes.
The germination story here is genuinely encouraging — reviewers point out that “had a problem with others germinating but not these, every seed planted grew,” which is exactly the reliability you want from a small packet. As a microgreen and micro-herb source, this size is perfect for kitchen trays and small spaces where a giant packet would go to waste.
The honest caveat is variety authenticity: one owner reports growing a different plant entirely and finding it neither purple nor shiso, and another notes the packet lacks planting instructions. These are real concerns for a 200-seed packet where every seed counts, and they are worth weighing against the strong germination reports. For a first-time purple shiso trial without a big investment, this is still a reasonable starting point.
The strengths
- Perfect small 200-seed scale for kitchen-tray microgreens
- Strong reported germination in the review data
- Non-GMO, open-pollinated purple shiso for pickling
The watch-outs
- Small packet runs out fast for full garden planting
- Occasional variety mix-up reported, so buy early before a season
Pick this for: a cautious first test of purple shiso in a small tray or pot.
Pass on it if: you need bulk purple leaves — the 200 seeds will not cover a big garden bed.
5. Bmore Spicy Purple Shiso Seeds
A budget-friendly 5,600-seed packet of purple perilla for sprouts, microgreens, and bold color.
This is the entry-level purist option — a straight packet of 5,600 purple shiso (Perilla frutescens var. crispa) seeds with no hydroponic extras, aimed squarely at gardeners growing in soil, raised beds, or balcony planters. The flavor profile is the classic red shiso mix of cinnamon, citrus, and coriander, and the compact herb thrives with basic care and moderate watering. It works double duty as full plants or as quick sprouts and microgreens in kitchen trays.
The value story is strong on paper: 5,600 seeds is a solid middle ground between the 200-seed Mountain Valley packet and the 16,800-seed Kitazawa giant. The seller also offers sizes from 350 up to 56,000 seeds, so there is a match for every garden scale. The purple frilled leaves add real visual punch to a garden while serving traditional Japanese dishes like umeboshi and Akajiso juice.
The blunt reality from the review data is that germination is the recurring gripe — shoppers say “I am a seasoned gardener and did not get any of the dozen seeds I planted to germinate” and the seeds “never germinated.” Multiple owners describe the seed as old or no good after several failed attempts. One positive review focuses on the seller resending a lost package, which shows decent service but does not fix the sprouting problem. On a slim review count, this packet is the risky pick — buy it only if you are prepared for possible failure, or invest a little more in the proven Kitazawa green packet.
What appeals
- Bulk 5,600 seeds for a low entry cost
- Purple color adds garden visual interest
- Works for sprouts, microgreens, and full plants
What worries buyers
- Recurring reports of seeds failing to germinate at all
- Thin review base makes reliability hard to judge
Choose it if: you want a cheap bulk packet of purple shiso and are willing to gamble on germination.
Steer clear if: reliable sprouting is your top priority — the green Kitazawa packet is the safer bet.
Understanding the Specs
Seed Count and Packet Size
The most decisive spec for shiso is how many seeds are in the packet, because this herb self-seeds heavily and one strong plant yields hundreds of leaves. A 200-seed packet suits a single test tray, while a 16,800-seed packet covers microgreens, multiple plantings, and friends. Match the seed count to your garden space—a bulk packet is wasted on one balcony pot.
Green vs. Purple Varieties
Green shiso (Ao Shiso) is the clean, minty-citrus herb for sushi and salads, while purple shiso (Aka Shiso) carries the cinnamon-citrus-coriander note used in pickling and drinks. They are distinct varieties, not different stages of the same plant, so choose based on the dishes you cook. A packet labeled Perilla may be either color, so check the variety name.
Germination Rate
Germination is the percentage of seeds that sprout under good conditions, and it drops as seeds age. Some growers report near-perfect sprouting from a 200-seed purple packet, while others see total failure from a bulk packet. Freshness is the invisible spec — buy from sellers with strong recent germination feedback and plant promptly.
Hydroponic Pods vs. Packets
Seed pod kits drop straight into an AeroGarden or iDOO machine with sponges, baskets, and domes included, but they hold far fewer seeds overall. Classic packets give you massive seed counts for soil planting but need your own pots and light. Know your growing setup before buying — pods cannot be planted in the ground and packets do not fit hydroponic machines.
FAQ
How many shiso plants do I need for a steady supply of leaves?
What is the difference between green and purple shiso seeds?
Will shiso seeds grow indoors without a hydroponic system?
How long does it take for shiso to reach full maturity?
Can I grow shiso as microgreens from a regular seed packet?
Why did my shiso seeds not germinate?
How many seeds come in a typical shiso packet?
Is shiso the same as perilla?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the shiso leaf seeds winner is the Kitazawa Green Ohba packet because its massive ~16,800 seed count and reliable germination feedback make it the only true supply-line option. If you cook sushi and Japanese dishes at home, this one packet removes the need to pay market prices for a few leaves ever again. If you want a hydroponic starter with shiso alongside other herbs, grab the inbloom 18-Pod Kit for its easy setup and wide machine compatibility, or the lighter 12-Pod LYKOCLEAN set if you prefer a compact footprint. And for a cautious first trial of purple shiso in a small tray, the Mountain Valley 200-seed packet gives you a low-risk introduction to that cinnamon-citrus flavor. With the crowd favorite holding a 4.4 rating and strong sprouting reports, the smart money is on proven germination over raw seed volume.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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